Dear Caldwell,
What a glorious day of worship we shared Sunday. Special thanks to the choir, including the Men’s Chorus, for lifting us up. At the “Souper Bowl of Caring,” organized so well by our youth and youth leaders, you helped raise $650 to fight hunger locally. (At least our lights didn’t go out.) Also, we were blessed to receive 8 new members (see photo)! So, one answer to the question in my title, What’s Next?, is an opportunity for you to get to know them and the gifts they bring to this part of the body of Christ.
I pose that question today for two other reasons.
1. As you may have read in the January CGN!, the session has chosen to take time this year to engage the congregation in what’s being called “Caldwell in 3D: Discernment, Discussion, Dreams.” Soon, you will be invited to share in the initial step of this process of determining “what’s next” for Caldwell and its ministries. We will all start by learning more about what it means to be a ‘missional’ church and how Caldwell can be a place of transformation for all whom it touches. Stay tuned for more.
2. A group of forward-thinking leaders, organized under the banner of “NEXT Church,” is also asking “What’s NEXT?”. Next month, March 4 and 5, NEXT will hold its national conference here in Charlotte to think and dream big about what kind of Church God is calling us to be. It should be a stimulating gathering of preachers, speakers and open forums. (I’ve been asked to tell Caldwell’s story of Wilderness-to-Resurrection as part of the proceedings.) This conference is open to all and may give us perspective as we ask what’s next for Caldwell. So I wanted to share some information, including how to register if you would like. Read more here (look in the upper right hand corner for the registration link).
http://nextchurch.net/2013-national-gathering/leadership/
Days like yesterday remind us how blessed we are to share this church family – and, more specifically, how we are called to continue to live into our mission statement. That task is more than enough of an answer to the question, “What’s Next?”
With prayers that God will bless you in new ways this week,
In Christ, John